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01 November 2026
Australia's lawmakers are moving to tighten the screws on wagering promotions, with proposed legal changes targeting a wide range of inducements that encourage online gambling. The bills aim to limit no-deposit bonuses, free bets, odds boosts, cashback rewards, reload bonuses, and VIP-style incentives that many operators currently use to win new customers.
If approved, the new powers will expand enforcement beyond simply prohibiting inducements used to open a betting account. Regulators will gain the ability to penalize and publicize even more types of promotions, from referral bonuses and cashback offers to odds boosts and VIP-linked wagering rewards.
The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 proposes to amend the 2001 Act and ban the offer, provision, or advertisement of any form of wagering inducement to individuals in Australia. The bill defines wagering inducements to include an exhaustive list: sign-up bonuses, free bets, odds boosts, cashback offers, reload bonuses, VIP or loyalty incentives, and referral incentives.
"These proposals are about protecting punters from predatory betting promotions and addressing very real concerns around gambling harm," said a spokesperson for the ministry responsible for the legislation. "We are determined to raise the bar on what promotions are permissible in Australia."
Regulators have growing evidence that some wagering inducements - particularly those based on "free" bets, no-turnover credits, and VIP-only rewards - can lead to addictive gambling behaviour. Promotions that encourage new accounts, repeated deposits, or high-volume gambling are key concerns.
The ACMA noted in written submissions to a parliamentary committee on online gambling harm that: "There is evidence to suggest that wagering inducements, in particular no-deposit bonuses, when seasoned with improbable payouts and other inducements, may activate motivated cognitive interpretations leading to an inflated sense of control over outcomes and losses in online gambling activity. That, in turn, increases the risk of problematic gambling."
In its report, the committee of inquiry recommended prohibiting the offer or provision of any credit, voucher, reward or other benefit as an inducement to open an account or refer another person to open an account. Winnings from a complementary betting credit or token should be withdrawable without turnover requirements or other restrictions, the committee added.
"These reforms are all about protecting consumers, especially young people, from harmful promotional and marketing practices," said Paul Griffiths, CEO of advocacy group Gambling with Lives Australia.
"The evidence is clear that these sorts of inducements can draw in new customers who may have the greatest risk of developing a gambling disorder. The fact they can often bank their winnings even if they gamble away the inducement itself is a clear appropriation of operator interests over the interests of the customer."
According to a report from the Minister for Social Services, Logan Ramsay, existing government guidance already restricts the use of account-opening and referral inducements. "We implemented these restrictions nationally in most jurisdictions in 2019. They're already creating a far safer playing field for customers."
The new stage of reform reflects the Albanese government's stronger line on restricting gambling promotions. In August 2026, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the Prime Minister dubbed many betting promotions "over the top" and called for them to be "wound back." He said private lobby group_promoted inducements were a "blatant attempt to hook in vulnerable customers."
Politics aside, the substantive changes proposed in the legislation are significant. The ACMA, which would be responsible for enforcement, could publish details of contraventions or even just alleged ones in some cases. Those caught providing or advertising inducements would risk a civil penalty of 10,000 units, which could equate to a multimillion-dollar fine for high-revenue operators.
A narrow exception would apply if the inducement was offered due to a "genuine error, mistake or accident" and the operator took reasonable steps to reverse or cancel it promptly, but the onus would clearly be on those making the mistake.
For bettors, wagering operators are likely to push back on the changes. But MPs on the parliamentary committee remain convinced that the existing level of regulation is inadequate.
"What matters is plain-spoken policy and practical regulation to reduce gambling harm, not just political posturing. Whatever they say in the party room, I think the public expects Parliament to act more decisively to rein in reckless gambling promotions online."
The Interctive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 remains under debate, but when passed, may be one of the most significant regulatory moves against betting promotions in a decade. Its impact on how online gambling operators market to new customers will be closely watched by both punters and industry analysts.